YO LA TENGO
Maxwell's, Hoboken NJ
March 22, 1991

Stonecutter Archives #8

AUD > unknown mics > Sony WM-D6 (?) > cassette master > Tascam 424 Mk II > Sony PCM-M10 (Line In, 24/48) > WAV > Audition > FLAC (16/44)

Recorded by Rich B. (?)
Transferred by neil d
Edited by Brandon

01. intro
02. The River of Water
03. Misty Water
04. Swing For Life
05. Upside Down
06. House Fall Down
07. Satellite
08. Five-Cornered Drone (Crispy Duck)
09. 86-Second Blowout
10. The Pain of Pain
11. Artificial Heart
12. Out the Window
13. Mushroom Cloud of Hiss (tape flip)
14. You Tore Me Down (Flamin' Groovies)
15. Action Time Vision (Alternative TV)
16. What Love Is (Dead Boys)

neil:
"Rich B., aka Stonecutter, recorded hundreds of shows in New York in the '80s and '90s, and traded for hundreds more. Until recently, many of these have been stacked up in trays and trays of DATs and cassettes in his basement, never shared beyond a relative handful of tape trades back in the day. Through his generosity, a few of us are helping to digitize and share these hidden gems. No one can say how many of these there will be, as we haven't hit bottom yet."

This is most notable as James McNew's first show with Yo La Tengo. It's also a very good recording from an exciting period in the band's history, premiering new songs, running through most of their next record (including the never-recorded "Misty Water," which was probably intended for that record) and closing with a couple of fiery covers.

Ira, from http://yolatengo.com/mcnew-day-rising/
"Taking the advice of Glinda the Good Witch that it's always best to start at the beginning, we open with "The River of Water," but before the evening's through we've premiered "Satellite" and "Artificial Heart." Not part of the set: "Drug Test," but President Yo La Tengo fans don't go home disappointed, as openers, Sleepyhead, cover it."

James, from http://gothamist.com/2007/11/16/james_mcnew_yo.php
"The first gig I played [with YLT] was Maxwell's in Hoboken, in March 1991. The thing I remember most about that show is that I broke a string I think on the second song of that gig and the bass player from the opening band, Sleepyhead, ran to the stage and gave me his bass while he and a guy who is now a graphic designer in New York meticulously changed the string on my bass and handed it back to me after one song with the borrowed bass. And I remember that moment as one of the most beautiful acts of human kindness I had ever experienced."

Smoothed out some funny volume levels on the tape, applied minor EQ (bass + treble boost) to most of the set (but not "You Tore Me Down" because I couldn't figure out what to do with that one). Clear vocals and minimal audience noise - a good capture of this landmark show.